On March 5, 2020, the Prime Minister held the 17th meeting of the Novel Coronavirus Response Headquarters at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the meeting, a discussion was held on the response to the novel coronavirus (COVID 19).

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

“Amidst the further spreading of infections in foreign countries, this is an extremely critical time. It is necessary to continue implementing flexible border controls without hesitation, let alone domestic measures. This time, we have decided to introduce a set of aggressive measures.

Firstly, we will additionally deny the entry of foreign nationals, in accordance with the Immigration Control and Refugee Act, who have stayed in areas such as North Gyeongsang Province of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Qom Province of the Republic of Iran.. At the same time, while introducing the measures to deny entry from certain areas, there are still people continuing to visit Japan from across China and the ROK. Aiming at preventing further infections and addressing the concerns among the public, we will strengthen the quarantine of those who enter Japan from both countries, as well as ask them to self-quarantine themselves in places designated by Quarantine Station Chiefs and refrain from using public transportation in Japan. I instruct you to secure the necessary number of staff to thoroughly ensure these requests including self-quarantine.

Furthermore, in order to reduce the total number of entries from China and the ROK, we intend to restrict the arrival of flights to Narita International Airport and Kansai International Airport; to suspend the services of passenger ships; and to suspend single or multiple entry visas that have already been issued, with respect to both countries.

We will proceed with the necessary arrangements and, with respect to the addition of those areas from which we will deny entry, make this effective as of 0:00, March 7. Regarding the measures related to China and the ROK, we will start implementing the relevant measures from 0:00, March 9, next week, after the notice period, and continue until the end of March to begin with.

Regarding facial masks, we have provided support to capital investment for companies in Japan and have secured the supply of over 600 million per month, which far exceeds the annual demand for this month. In addition, in response to the current shortage, we intend to include comprehensive mask-related measures that address the current situation from both the demand and supply sides in the second batch of emergency measures to be compiled next week.

On the demand side, there are several cases that facial masks have been traded at very high prices online. It has been pointed out that the purchase of facial masks for such a resale purpose is worsening the shortages at storefronts. In light of this, we intend to prohibit the resale of facial masks, in accordance with the Act on Emergency Measures for Stabilizing Living Conditions of the Public. I instruct you to advance necessary arrangements for a Cabinet decision on government ordinance towards smooth implementation.

On the supply side, we intend to fundamentally strengthen the supply of facial masks to those places that really need them from the perspective of preventing the spread of infections.

To begin with, the Government will make a lump-sum purchase of 20 million masks made of fabric, which can be reused many times. We will provide a sufficient number of these masks so that everyone at care facilities for the elderly, care centers for people with disabilities, daycare centers, and facilities providing after-school programs in accordance with the present school closure, can receive at least one mask, in cooperation with local governments. While this will impose burdens on staff, such as washing these masks, I hope to eliminate the shortage of facial masks at these facilities, by letting them to use these masks.

At the same time, as for facial masks for medical institutions, we intend to secure 15 million facial masks as the Government, by asking companies in Japan to increase the production and expanding import from overseas. We will make every possible effort so as not to hinder medical practices due to the shortage of masks, disseminating these masks through local governments or relevant authorities to medical institutions in need as a priority.

In addition, we intend to further increase the supply of facial masks in the domestic market by providing support to mask manufacturers to increase their production. Moving forward, closely monitoring the demand and supply of facial masks, we will aggressively introduce necessary measures, making full use of legal frameworks and budgetary measures to address concerns among the public.

I ask everyone to continue mobilizing all possible measures and respond to the situation so as to protect the lives and health of the public.”